The Strange Case Of Conchita Martinez

An ideal example of how you do not really like someone initially (well, who am I kidding might as well say I hated her) then you get to know that they are not that bad and finally when they leave you feel so attached that you actually feel a tinge of sadness !

What Does Amit Have To Say About This ?

Just came across this article on FOX via a link on The Corridor of Uncertainty.

Basically, my point of interest lies in this paragraph:

And you do not need to own a satellite dish to watch it, as, by government decree, any successful bidder for the TV rights to Indian cricket must allow Doordarshan, the state channel, a feed.

This requirement has been imposed on Nimbus, the production group that recently paid $867 million for a four-year deal with the Indian Cricket Board, and it has served Indian cricket well because it is playing its part in spreading the sports gospel to areas where, thanks to the growth of vibrant cities and improved transport, aspiring cricketers can be put in touch with good facilities and coaches.

So what we have hear is a clear case of restriction on the concept of free markets one which is very dear to Amit and Gaurav, both of whose blogs I am a keen reader of and whose views I respect immensely. Yet, as this article mentions and I think I agree it has been of great benefit to young Indian cricketers in rural areas and Indian cricket in general. About the only persons suffering from it are the guys at Nimbus.

Just to cite some examples of the benefits - the names Pathan, Dhoni, RP Singh, Munaf etc quickly come to mind. Plus the fact that Uttar Pradesh has won the Ranji Trophy for the first time !

So was wondering whether Amit and Gaurav will concede that this is an aberration to their staunch belief in the fact that free markets end up benefiting all or do they not consider this to be beneficial in the long term ??

Me, as I candidly admit am yet to make up my mind on this free market issue. This is just another interesting manifestation of my dilemma that I am pondering over.

Freedom Of Speech In Gujarat !

This is what happens in one of the most prosperous states of the World's largest democracy.

Link via Amit Varma.

Update: All is not dark of course, here is a site that lists the good that is happening in India. Check it out for yourself. I haven't explored it in full detail yet, but seems interesting.

Shocking

Read this post on Amit Varma's India Uncut.

I absolutely agree with him. There are so many things we as a nation have got to learn.

It is only through reading the blogs of such people having knowledge of economics that we can realize how much there is still to be done and that an 8.1 annual increase in GDP is only 1 part of the story.

Watching Live Cricket In Class

This is an amazing experience, folks. I am actually watching live coverage of the India v Pakistan game while in class !

Several factors have combined to make this possible.
1. Luckily the cricket is available on my unreliable link today.
2. I have just discovered that paying attention in this class does not pay anyway.
3. I am particularly pissed off at this particular teacher because she did not accept my last homework even though it was submitted on time simply because she was not in office during her office hours.
4. Usage of laptop in class is liberally allowed here.
5. There is excellent wireless signal strength.

So all in all it feels very brilliant and very powerful.

I am taken back to those good old school days when we used to stealthily listen to the radio commentary in class. Now it is video and it is open. Just brilliant.

A Question Of Classification

Should I consider playing outdoor sports as part of my physical exercise routine ??

As most of you will readily agree in graduate student life there is precious little time for anything other than academics. So this time needs to be devoted with great care to all other activities.

The overlap between sports and exercise makes this particular choice rather difficult. For sports can give you exercise but in a rather more unpredictable manner than the gym. But when the weather is great it does seem a shame to be cooped up inside in a gym.

Of course I, like many other people primarily play sport for the love of it than for the physical exercise. Hmm ... an interesting choice this. One which will take some thought.

A Victory For Free Choice

This.

An Experience

Had been to John Nash's lecture today. More to follow ...

I Hate You !

That might sound like a horrible thing to say - but I was just wondering - is hatred better than indifference ? I remember making a post a few days back about my desire to hurt someone and the more I think of it I realize that if I want to hurt that person it is because it MATTERS to me whether he/she is hurt. So clearly I am not indifferent towards him/her.

I remember reading a poem in Hindi in Standard 10. It went something like:

Agar Phool Nahin Bo Sakte To
Kaatein Kam Se Kam Mat Bovo

Meaning if you can't make a person happy at least don't hurt him/her.

Now I can't say I totally disagree with that - but I do feel hatred is perhaps a better emotion to have than indifference. I don't know whether I would feel better to be hated than to be not cared for.

I Disagree

As I am reading one "Manacha Shlok" everyday I begin to realize that I disagree with several rather most of what it has to say. With the notable exception of the insistence on truth, of course. I do not understand whether I am being a fool to disagree with an acknowledged great soul like Shri Ramdas Swami or whether I am just not being able to understand the deeper meaning. Of course in due time I will try to come up with specific points about where and why I disagree. But for now I am just wondering whether I am right to dispute what he says.